Chapter 42
The wedding dress arrived at 7 AM.
65 vouchs
Elara opened the box in her bedroom. White and simple. Knee-length with delicate lace sleeves. A fitted bodice that flared slightly at the waist. Nothing dramatic, no needs or long veil. Nothing over the top. Just elegant and perfect for a small ceremony in Santorini.
She got ready alone. Did her own makeup. Pinned her hair into a loose updo with a few strands framing her face. Slipped into the dress and looked at herself in the mirror.
This was it. Her wedding day.
At 9:30 AM, the driver knocked on her door. “Mrs. Vance, the car is ready.”
She grabbed her small bouquet of white roses. Took one last look at herself. Walked downstairs and climbed into the back of the car.
The drive took fifteen minutes. Through winding streets. Past white buildings and blue domes. Up a hill to a small parish tucked away from the tourist areas. Quiet and beautiful.
The driver opened her door. “Good luck, ma’am.”
Elara stepped out. Her heels clicked against the stone pathway leading to the entrance.
Marcus was already there. Standing outside the small church. Dressed in a perfectly tailored suit. Navy blue. No tie. Just a crisp white shirt with the top button undone. Hair styled back..
He turned when he heard her footsteps. His eyes met hers.
For a second, neither of them moved.
Then Marcus walked toward her. Offered his arm. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
They walked inside together.
The parish was tiny. Maybe twenty seats total. Stained glass windows letting in colored light. Flowers arranged simply at the altar. An officiant waiting with a kind smile.
No guests. No family. Just them.
The officiant greeted them warmly. Spoke in accented English about love and commitment and partnership. Words that felt too real for what this actually was.
Then came the vows.
“Do you, Marcus Thorne, take Elara Vance to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
In health and in wealth, in sickness and in death bla bla bla and all those things they say in a wedding.
“I do.”
14:44 Mon, May 11
Chapter 42
“Do you, Elara Vance, take Marcus Thorne to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
1355 voushar
Her mouth felt dry. Her heart was racing. This was just a contract. Just paperwork. Nothing real.
“I do.”
“Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Elara turned to face Marcus. She actually expected maybe a quick peck. Something for show even though no one was watching. Because with Marcus you never really know, he acts all lovey dovey today and tomorrow he doesn’t even speak to you.
But Marcus stepped closer. Held her face in his hands. And kissed her.
Really kissed her.
Soft at first. Like he was testing the waters, then deeper. His mouth moving against hers like he meant it. Like this was real. Like they were actually in love instead of two people playing roles.
Elara kissed him back. She couldn’t help it, after he made her horny during the charity event night, she hasn’t even had time for her vibrator. So she’ll take the crumbs she hers now, mehn celibacy is not easy
Her hands went to his chest. His jacket. Pulling him closer. She kissed him even harder.
When they finally pulled apart, she was breathless.
The officiant smiled. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Thorne.”
They signed the papers. Official documents that made it legal. Made her Elara Thorne instead of Elara
Vance.
One blink she was single. Another blink engaged. Another blink married. Ohh and also pregnant, shit that was another issue.
Time ran so fast in Marcus’s world.
Outside, a photographer was waiting. Young guy that kind of knows what he was doing just from his looks.. Marcus must have arranged it this morning.
“Congratulations! Let’s get some shots.”
They posed in front of the church. Marcus’s arm around her waist. Her head tilted toward him. Smiling like newlyweds.
“Beautiful! Now kiss again.”
Marcus looked at her. She nodded. He leaned in and kissed her again.. Sweet.
The camera clicked. Over and over.
They moved to different locations. Against a white wall covered in bougainvillea. On the steps of the church. Walking hand in hand down the stone pathway.
14:44 Mon, May 11 J
Chapter 12
65 Vourists
Marcus was stiff through most of it. Uncomfortable. Not used to performing for cameras like this.
“Smile, husband,” Elara whispered during one pose.
He gave her a look. But he smiled. Small but real.
They moved to another spot. Elara stepped wrong in her heels. Stumbled.
Marcus caught her immediately. One arm around her waist. The other steadying her shoulder. Holding
her close.
“Got you,” he said quietly.
Click.
“Beautiful!” the photographer shouted. “Perfect! That’s the shot right there. Wonderful posture. So natural.”
They finished twenty minutes later. The photographer packed up. Promised to send the edited photos within forty eight hours.
Marcus turned to Elara. Looked at her properly for the first time since they’d left the church.
“You look beautiful.”
Butterflies instantly fill her chest making it hard to breathe.
“Thank you.”
They drove back to the house in silence. Neither of them needing to fill the space with words.
When they arrived, Marcus went to his office. Said he had calls to make. Work that couldn’t wait even on his wedding day.
Elara went upstairs to her room. Closed the door. Carefully removed the dress and hung it in the closet.
She collapsed on the bed. Facing up staring at the white ceiling.
And that’s when it hit her.
She was married. Truly, actually married.
To Marcus Thorne.
For the next two years, she was Mrs. Thorne. His wife. Legally bound to him in ways that went beyond just
a contract.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She reached for it.
**Mimi:** CALL ME RIGHT NOW
**Emeka:** Girl I saw photos online. MARCUS THORNE??? MARRIED??? TO YOU???
Shit. The photos were already out?
Chapter 42
Chapter 42
The wedding dress arrived at 7 AM.
65 vouchs
Elara opened the box in her bedroom. White and simple. Knee-length with delicate lace sleeves. A fitted bodice that flared slightly at the waist. Nothing dramatic, no needs or long veil. Nothing over the top. Just elegant and perfect for a small ceremony in Santorini.
She got ready alone. Did her own makeup. Pinned her hair into a loose updo with a few strands framing her face. Slipped into the dress and looked at herself in the mirror.
This was it. Her wedding day.
At 9:30 AM, the driver knocked on her door. “Mrs. Vance, the car is ready.”
She grabbed her small bouquet of white roses. Took one last look at herself. Walked downstairs and climbed into the back of the car.
The drive took fifteen minutes. Through winding streets. Past white buildings and blue domes. Up a hill to a small parish tucked away from the tourist areas. Quiet and beautiful.
The driver opened her door. “Good luck, ma’am.”
Elara stepped out. Her heels clicked against the stone pathway leading to the entrance.
Marcus was already there. Standing outside the small church. Dressed in a perfectly tailored suit. Navy blue. No tie. Just a crisp white shirt with the top button undone. Hair styled back..
He turned when he heard her footsteps. His eyes met hers.
For a second, neither of them moved.
Then Marcus walked toward her. Offered his arm. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
They walked inside together.
The parish was tiny. Maybe twenty seats total. Stained glass windows letting in colored light. Flowers arranged simply at the altar. An officiant waiting with a kind smile.
No guests. No family. Just them.
The officiant greeted them warmly. Spoke in accented English about love and commitment and partnership. Words that felt too real for what this actually was.
Then came the vows.
“Do you, Marcus Thorne, take Elara Vance to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
In health and in wealth, in sickness and in death bla bla bla and all those things they say in a wedding.
“I do.”
14:44 Mon, May 11
Chapter 42
“Do you, Elara Vance, take Marcus Thorne to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
1355 voushar
Her mouth felt dry. Her heart was racing. This was just a contract. Just paperwork. Nothing real.
“I do.”
“Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Elara turned to face Marcus. She actually expected maybe a quick peck. Something for show even though no one was watching. Because with Marcus you never really know, he acts all lovey dovey today and tomorrow he doesn’t even speak to you.
But Marcus stepped closer. Held her face in his hands. And kissed her.
Really kissed her.
Soft at first. Like he was testing the waters, then deeper. His mouth moving against hers like he meant it. Like this was real. Like they were actually in love instead of two people playing roles.
Elara kissed him back. She couldn’t help it, after he made her horny during the charity event night, she hasn’t even had time for her vibrator. So she’ll take the crumbs she hers now, mehn celibacy is not easy
Her hands went to his chest. His jacket. Pulling him closer. She kissed him even harder.
When they finally pulled apart, she was breathless.
The officiant smiled. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Thorne.”
They signed the papers. Official documents that made it legal. Made her Elara Thorne instead of Elara
Vance.
One blink she was single. Another blink engaged. Another blink married. Ohh and also pregnant, shit that was another issue.
Time ran so fast in Marcus’s world.
Outside, a photographer was waiting. Young guy that kind of knows what he was doing just from his looks.. Marcus must have arranged it this morning.
“Congratulations! Let’s get some shots.”
They posed in front of the church. Marcus’s arm around her waist. Her head tilted toward him. Smiling like newlyweds.
“Beautiful! Now kiss again.”
Marcus looked at her. She nodded. He leaned in and kissed her again.. Sweet.
The camera clicked. Over and over.
They moved to different locations. Against a white wall covered in bougainvillea. On the steps of the church. Walking hand in hand down the stone pathway.
14:44 Mon, May 11 J
Chapter 12
65 Vourists
Marcus was stiff through most of it. Uncomfortable. Not used to performing for cameras like this.
“Smile, husband,” Elara whispered during one pose.
He gave her a look. But he smiled. Small but real.
They moved to another spot. Elara stepped wrong in her heels. Stumbled.
Marcus caught her immediately. One arm around her waist. The other steadying her shoulder. Holding
her close.
“Got you,” he said quietly.
Click.
“Beautiful!” the photographer shouted. “Perfect! That’s the shot right there. Wonderful posture. So natural.”
They finished twenty minutes later. The photographer packed up. Promised to send the edited photos within forty eight hours.
Marcus turned to Elara. Looked at her properly for the first time since they’d left the church.
“You look beautiful.”
Butterflies instantly fill her chest making it hard to breathe.
“Thank you.”
They drove back to the house in silence. Neither of them needing to fill the space with words.
When they arrived, Marcus went to his office. Said he had calls to make. Work that couldn’t wait even on his wedding day.
Elara went upstairs to her room. Closed the door. Carefully removed the dress and hung it in the closet.
She collapsed on the bed. Facing up staring at the white ceiling.
And that’s when it hit her.
She was married. Truly, actually married.
To Marcus Thorne.
For the next two years, she was Mrs. Thorne. His wife. Legally bound to him in ways that went beyond just
a contract.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She reached for it.
**Mimi:** CALL ME RIGHT NOW
**Emeka:** Girl I saw photos online. MARCUS THORNE??? MARRIED??? TO YOU???
Shit. The photos were already out?
Chapter 42
Elara stared at her phone. At the messages flooding in. At the reality of what she’d just done.
She was married. And the whole world was about to know.
AD
56 voucia
Comment
Elara stared at her phone. At the messages flooding in. At the reality of what she’d just done.
She was married. And the whole world was about to know.
AD
56 voucia
Comment
